The debate over Kelechi Iheanacho’s winning goal for Celtic against Dundee has been settled by former referee Des Roache, who declared the strike entirely clean and said VAR was right not to intervene.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the decisive goal to keep Celtic’s title charge alive against Dundee, but the celebration barely had time to form before the argument started. Social media users passed around a still image appearing to show Iheanacho with his hands on Dundee centre-back Astley in the build-up to the strike, and the question was raised: why did VAR not get involved? The answer, according to former referee Des Roache, is straightforward: there was nothing to intervene for.
Roache, speaking to the Daily Record, was emphatic in his assessment. He noted that the first indicator of a legitimate goal was not his own opinion but the behaviour of the Dundee players themselves: not a single one raised their hand or looked to the referee for a foul call while play was continuing. That instinct among the opposition is usually the most honest read of any contact situation. Super Eagles fans following Celtic’s title push can also check the YOHAIG welcome offer for the latest Bet9ja promotions on the Scottish Premiership.
The VAR Question and Where It Leads
Roache’s analysis went further than simply absolving Iheanacho. He addressed the role of VAR in situations like this, pointing out that the technology only exists to correct clear and obvious errors. Subjective contact in the box, where opinion could go either way, does not meet that threshold. If the on-field referee had called a foul, VAR could have supported that call. But with no foul given, there was no error to correct, only a debate that would not have been resolved differently by more camera angles.
What the incident also captured was something Roache touched on: the way modern players pause to check their own celebrations, unsure whether a goal will stand even moments after scoring. Iheanacho was seen looking back toward the officials before fully committing to his reaction, a habit born of the VAR era that reflects how deeply the technology has altered the psychology of scoring. Celtic fans want him celebrating freely. Supporters using the Bet9ja welcome bonus to follow Scottish Premiership fixtures can track his form at FootballInNigeria.com.ng.
What the Goal Means for Iheanacho at Celtic
Beyond the officiating discussion, the goal itself matters enormously for where Iheanacho is in his career. He joined Celtic after years of squad rotation at Leicester City and Sevilla, a period when his quality was never really in doubt but his opportunities were rationed. Scotland has given him a run of starts and the reward has been goals when his club needed them most. Keeping Celtic in the title race with a winning goal confirms that at 29 he remains a dependable finisher at European competition level. The Scottish Premiership race is as tight as it has been in years, and every Iheanacho contribution counts. Fans can follow his updates and check the Bet9ja referral code for the latest promotional offers before the next round of fixtures.
📌 Did You Know?
- Iheanacho scored one of the most memorable FA Cup goals in recent memory when he netted the winner for Leicester City against Chelsea in the 2021 FA Cup final, his first major trophy in English football.
- He was a FIFA Under-17 World Cup winner with Nigeria in 2013, part of the Golden Eaglets squad that defeated Mexico in the final in the UAE, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated youth football achievements.
- Des Roache, the former referee who cleared the goal, is one of Scotland’s most respected officiating voices and has been a regular pundit on refereeing decisions in the Scottish Premiership in recent years.
- Celtic’s title races against Rangers have been among the most competitive in Scottish football history, with the clubs sharing 107 combined league titles across the domestic era.
- Iheanacho spent time at Sevilla in La Liga before moving to Celtic, giving him rare experience across three different major European leagues in a career that has often been characterised by inconsistent playing time despite clear quality.
- VAR was introduced to the Scottish Premiership in the 2022/23 season and has been a source of significant debate, with its implementation criticised for slowing down the game without always improving decision accuracy.
- Dundee FC, despite their struggles this season, are one of Scottish football’s founding clubs and have played in the top flight for most of their history since the professional era began in 1893.
